As this is the last weekly business update of the year, on behalf of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, we would like to wish our members a Happy Christmas. As we write this update, uncertainty remains around what further interventions the NI Executive and UK Government will take to address the spread of Covid-19 cases.
Trading has been very difficult for many of our members in the run up to Christmas, particularly hospitality businesses who have experienced a significant number of cancellations. Consumer confidence has been impacted and some sectors of the economy may need further financial assistance.
The booster campaign is being accelerated and we provide an update on Covid-19 vaccine locations below. We would encourage you to share this with your network.
On a more positive note, it was great to receive news about the Albert Basin Park being allocated £16.2m in funding and the Belfast Region City Deal being signed. You can read more about this below.
We are also delighted to announce that Julie Gibbons, Managing Director of AbbeyAutoline, the largest insurance broker in Northern Ireland, was elected as the new President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade at our AGM held on Thursday 9th December 2021 at Custom House, Newry. Best wishes to Julie.
Edwina Flynn, CEO of Wood Innovations was elected Vice President. Kieran Grant, Finance Director at Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, was elected Treasurer and Jackie Reid, Chief Strategy Officer at DELI LITES Ireland was elected to the Board.
You can read more about the election of all our new Chamber Officers HERE.
Thanks to Rosemary Connolly & Leanne Murphy from Rosemary Connolly Solicitors who delivered a Chamber webinar last Friday on the legal implications for returning to the office/working from home. Watch the webinar HERE and view slides HERE.
In this update, I have also included information on:
- £16.2m Announced For Albert Basin Park Project
- Transformative Billion-Pound Belfast Region City Deal
- UK Government Launches Get Boosted Now Campaign
- Temporary Exemption For Goods Exported From Ireland To GB
- NMD Business: Tender For Growth Programme
- SRC: FREE Social Media & Digital Marketing Course
- NMD Business Survey Findings September 2021
Finally, thank you to all our members, corporate patrons and supporters who have helped the Chamber in 2021. We look forward to announcing our 2022 plans in early January. If you have any feedback about the Chamber, please contact me on:
T: 07493 192918
E: tony@newrychamber.com
Tony McKeown
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
£16.2M ANNOUNCED FOR ALBERT BASIN PARK PROJECT
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA has announced £16.2m for the Albert Basin Park Project which will see a City Park created on the 15-acre site.
Funding will come from the first tranche of allocations of the City/Growth Deals Complementary Fund.
These allocations were agreed as part of NI Executive’s Draft Budget 2022-2025.
This investment in a City Park will complement the £43m City Deal Project to regenerate Newry City Centre.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
EXECUTIVE MINISTERS HAIL BILLION-POUND
INVESTMENT IN BELFAST REGION CITY DEAL (BRCD)
A £1 billion investment through the Belfast Region City Deal will be transformative for the regional economy and local people, Executive Ministers have said.
The First Minister, Paul Givan, Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons, Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon & Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey were speaking as the first of four City Deals was signed, marking a significant milestone in the initiative.
The Belfast Region City Deal, including £350 million funding from the Executive, is an investment across 6 council areas, including Newry, Mourne and Down DC which will deliver 20 projects across the region.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
UK GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES GET BOOSTED NOW CAMPAIGN
You will have seen the message from the Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officers warning about the danger posed by the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, which is spreading fast.
As part of the effort to combat the effects of this virus, UK Government has launched its GET BOOSTED NOW campaign which is a vital mission to build a wall of defence against the new Omicron variant.
This speed of the Omicron variant spread means it will quickly infect very large numbers of people. Anyone who is unvaccinated or who hasn’t had their booster is at greater risk from COVID-19 and more serious illness.
Vaccines are the best way we can protect ourselves. A booster will strengthen protection from serious illness from COVID-19 and provide the best possible defence for us all.
You can find out where you can get vaccinated in the Southern Health & Social Care Trust Area HERE.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE.
EXEMPTION FOR GOODS EXPORTED FROM IRELAND TO GB
Goods exported from Ireland to GB will be temporarily exempted from new border controls on EU-GB trade which take effect on 1st January 2022.
The UK Government said the temporary exemption was a “pragmatic act of goodwill” which can help maintain space for continued negotiations on the NI Protocol.
In a statement, Brexit Minister Lord Frost said those negotiations will not be completed by 1st January 2022.
Lord Frost is to meet his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič later. This is the latest delay by the UK in implementing full border controls on goods from the EU.
From 1st January 2022, full customs declarations and controls are due to be introduced on EU goods entering GB. Food & Agriculture Products, known as SPS goods, will also need to be pre-notified to the UK authorities.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
NMD BUSINESS: TENDER FOR GROWTH PROGRAMME
Gain the skills and the confidence to identify, target and bid for public and private sector tendering opportunities.
The NMD Business Tender for Growth Programme aims to develop current supply chains by helping local businesses enter a new sector, move up a tier in a supply chain, open new opportunities in customer supply chains and establish tendering opportunities.
The programme is FREE to eligible businesses based in the NMDDC Area and will include:
- One-to-one expert mentoring support
- Group-based mentoring
- Meet the buyer events
The programme will support a total of 170 eligible businesses over the period to 31st December 2022.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
SRC: FREE SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL MARKETING COURSE
SRC has a FREE course starting on 17th January 2022.
The OCN NI Level 4 Award in Social Media and Digital Marketing qualification aims to develop knowledge and skills in the use of internet and communications technologies for marketing activities and manage the use of social media within organisations.
With the increased use of communication technologies, many companies are taking advantage of social media and digital marketing approaches to promote and market their products and services.
This course is FREE to individuals through the Skill Up Flexible Skills Programme and you can apply for it if you have a degree in any discipline.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
NMD BUSINESS SURVEY FINDINGS SEPTEMBER 2021
- 65.4% will seek financial support
- 61.5% will seek grant assistance
- 34.6% funding required for capital investment
- 30.8% funding required for skills investment
- 63.5% will seek mentoring
- 48.6% prefer virtual mentoring
- 37.1% prefer face-to-face mentoring
- 55.8% have experienced skills shortages
- 61.5% are planning recruitment in the next 12 months
- 72% would consider recruiting an apprentice
- 92% are confident for the future
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SURVEY INFORGRAPHIC.